Sen. Amy Galey

Maddy summarySB 153, the North Carolina Border Protection Act, requires state law enforcement and correctional facilities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It mandates that state employees determine the immigration status of people in custody, report non-citizens to ICE, and enter into 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow designated officers to enforce immigration laws under ICE supervision. The bill also prohibits UNC constituent institutions from adopting sanctuary policies. These provisions directly affect state departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, as well as UNC universities. The bill does not change existing federal immigration law but requires state agencies to align their practices with federal enforcement priorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires counties in North Carolina that completed a property reappraisal effective January 1, 2026, to temporarily pause using those new values for tax calculations. Instead, these counties must use the property values from their previous reappraisal for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and continue using the 2026 reappraisal values for all future years until a new general reappraisal is conducted. The legislation also clarifies the timeline for scheduling the next reappraisal and allows taxpayers to appeal property listings related to the 2026 reappraisal during the 2027 calendar year. Additionally, the bill updates qualifications and requirements for county assessors, mandating a $20 examination fee for certain candidates and requiring all assessors to complete 30 hours of continuing education every 24 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce redundant inspections for adult care homes in North Carolina by allowing one recent, passed inspection to count for multiple similar checks within a three-month window. It directly affects adult care facilities, state health regulators, and local agencies that currently conduct overlapping safety and facility reviews. Under the new rules, if a home has already passed an inspection by the state's Adult Care Licensure Section, other state or local inspectors must accept those results instead of performing their own separate evaluations. The legislation also allocates $100,000 in state funds to support this streamlined process, with the changes taking effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 587 clarifies the rules for existing properties that no longer meet current land development regulations, termed "nonconformities." It defines a nonconformity as a lawfully established lot, structure, or use that doesn't comply with new regulations, provided it's not expanded or intensified. The bill establishes that new regulations generally cannot apply to these existing nonconformities without the property owner's written consent, protecting their continued use. Property owners are permitted to reconstruct or repair nonconforming elements as long as they are not enlarged. However, this protection may expire if the nonconformity is intentionally and voluntarily discontinued for 24 consecutive months, with provisions to pause this period during certain legal proceedings or emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 59 requires state and local agencies to hold public hearings with agricultural advisory boards before condemning farmland within voluntary agricultural districts in North Carolina. The bill mandates that advisory boards must hold hearings and submit written recommendations within 45 days, and agencies cannot proceed with condemnation actions for 120 days after receiving these recommendations. It directly affects landowners in these districts, government agencies seeking to acquire land, and the advisory boards responsible for reviewing proposals. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to condemnation actions initiated on or after that date.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 394, titled the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, seeks to prevent specific foreign entities from acquiring certain lands in North Carolina. The bill prohibits citizens, residents, and entities linked to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing, leasing, or holding interests in agricultural land or land within a 25-mile radius of a military installation. It also includes provisions for the divestment of such lands if acquired in violation and requires documentation of land ownership by these entities. Exemptions apply for de minimis interests in publicly traded companies and for entities cleared by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission to create a new digital reporting and response system to help identify and address suspected human trafficking cases. The system will allow the public and professionals to submit anonymous tips through various channels, such as mobile apps or text messages, and will use artificial intelligence to prioritize reports based on their severity before routing them to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that third-party contractors must provide human trafficking awareness training to their employees and allocates state funds to support the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office in its anti-trafficking task force.

Maddy summarySB 1080 proposes a constitutional amendment to cap North Carolina's state income tax rate at a maximum of 3.5%. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, this change would prevent the legislature from raising the income tax rate higher than that threshold in the future. The bill applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and requires a majority vote in favor to become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the North Carolina Constitution to establish a "right to work" for all residents. The key provision states that a person's right to work cannot be denied based on whether they are a member of a labor union or pay union dues. If approved by voters in a 2026 referendum, the amendment would legally protect employees from being forced to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. The bill also authorizes the state legislature to pass additional laws to define and implement these protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the North Carolina Constitution to explicitly protect the right of people to farm and practice forestry. The amendment would declare activities such as growing crops, raising livestock, and harvesting timber as essential parts of the state's heritage that must be preserved for the public good. It clarifies that these rights are subject only to laws passed by the state legislature, meaning the change would not override existing regulations but rather affirm the practice of agriculture and forestry. Currently, the bill is in the process of being reviewed by state committees and would be voted on by eligible voters in a statewide election in November 2026.